Too many Platinum guests in Thailand ?
Jul 29, 2022, 9:17 am
#92
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,514
Yep. Not the right time of year to go to the Andaman. We're going to Bali instead.
Jul 29, 2022, 10:13 am
#93
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Montréal, Canada
Posts: 1,610
Jul 29, 2022, 10:33 am
#94
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 2,905
There's nothing quite like being told that I can only stay in the lounge for 1.5 hours because there're too many platinums in the hotel and the elites must learn to take turns now.
Those who have been to hotels in Seoul will know what I am talking about.
I can only hope this practice doesn't spread to other countries.
Those who have been to hotels in Seoul will know what I am talking about.
I can only hope this practice doesn't spread to other countries.
Totally different from my trip in late 2021.
Jul 29, 2022, 10:40 am
#95
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: WAW
Programs: A3(*G), Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 2,534
There's nothing quite like being told that I can only stay in the lounge for 1.5 hours because there're too many platinums in the hotel and the elites must learn to take turns now.
Those who have been to hotels in Seoul will know what I am talking about.
I can only hope this practice doesn't spread to other countries.
Those who have been to hotels in Seoul will know what I am talking about.
I can only hope this practice doesn't spread to other countries.
Jul 29, 2022, 7:01 pm
#96
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Homeless
Programs: Hyatt Glob; Hilton Dia; Marriott AMB; Accor Dia; IHG Dia Amb; GHA Tit
Posts: 4,851
Jul 30, 2022, 6:12 am
#97
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
Westin Josun Seoul and the Plaza Seoul (Autograph Collection). I hear JW Seoul applies something similar also. I was politely asked to 'leave the lounge' while I was working on my laptop by a lounge staff as my '90 minutes of lounge time' had expired...
My suggestion when booking hotels in S. Korea (and Taipei too, it seems) with lounge access is to check whether they impose time limits... especially if you are someone who does like to relax in the lounge for hours.
My suggestion when booking hotels in S. Korea (and Taipei too, it seems) with lounge access is to check whether they impose time limits... especially if you are someone who does like to relax in the lounge for hours.
Jul 30, 2022, 11:02 am
#99
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,228
I am not sure why credit cards and Chinese plats keep getting mentioned in this thread. They both might contribute to a global issue with too many Plats but that is not the root cause of this thread. This is also not an issue that is isolated to Bangkok, if we are going to attempt to isolate the issue then the issue could be isolated to price points I mentioned previously.
The offer for locals is 40% but it is limited to 3,000 thb per night. Locals can also get discounts on flights. This has resulted in a lot of staycations in BKK flooded with Thais but I have observed the same issues in the North in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, in Phuket and also in JW Khao Lak. The only place this year I didn't encounter any problems were at the W Koh Samui and in fact this worked in my favour in getting an extreme wow villa for a week!
I spend around 60/70 nights per year in hotels in Thailand and get looked after pretty well at some properties which means I always return to them. During this year some of these hotels have handled Rao Tiew Duay Kan pretty well showing that it is still possible to differentiate between loyal customers and those taking advantage of a short term offer.
Moving forwards there is talk of dual pricing with hotels remaining so this problem could be here to stay.
The offer for locals is 40% but it is limited to 3,000 thb per night. Locals can also get discounts on flights. This has resulted in a lot of staycations in BKK flooded with Thais but I have observed the same issues in the North in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, in Phuket and also in JW Khao Lak. The only place this year I didn't encounter any problems were at the W Koh Samui and in fact this worked in my favour in getting an extreme wow villa for a week!
I spend around 60/70 nights per year in hotels in Thailand and get looked after pretty well at some properties which means I always return to them. During this year some of these hotels have handled Rao Tiew Duay Kan pretty well showing that it is still possible to differentiate between loyal customers and those taking advantage of a short term offer.
Moving forwards there is talk of dual pricing with hotels remaining so this problem could be here to stay.
Jul 30, 2022, 11:27 am
#100
Join Date: Feb 2018
Programs: Bonvoy :Ambassador , ALL :Diamond, Skywards :Silver, Krisflyer :Silver
Posts: 2,812
I believe the overflow of these night based elites (up to Titaniums) was caused by cheap hotel rate and 2 years elite extension by Marriott.
Those Taobao platinums will contribute as well.
I also believe that Bonvoy will have higher than average Ambassador guests for this period due to elite extensions during 2021 and 2022
Coming 2023, the number of night based elites will be still higher than average as there are still plenty of cheap rates in 2022
While Ambassador will be back to normal or even lower as they need 100 nights and $20k spending again to reach the tier.
The lower rate on 2022 actually made it harder for people to requalify Ambassador to certain extent.
Those Taobao platinums will contribute as well.
I also believe that Bonvoy will have higher than average Ambassador guests for this period due to elite extensions during 2021 and 2022
Coming 2023, the number of night based elites will be still higher than average as there are still plenty of cheap rates in 2022
While Ambassador will be back to normal or even lower as they need 100 nights and $20k spending again to reach the tier.
The lower rate on 2022 actually made it harder for people to requalify Ambassador to certain extent.
Jul 30, 2022, 11:28 am
#101
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,210
I am not sure why credit cards and Chinese plats keep getting mentioned in this thread. They both might contribute to a global issue with too many Plats but that is not the root cause of this thread. This is also not an issue that is isolated to Bangkok, if we are going to attempt to isolate the issue then the issue could be isolated to price points I mentioned previously.
The offer for locals is 40% but it is limited to 3,000 thb per night. Locals can also get discounts on flights. This has resulted in a lot of staycations in BKK flooded with Thais but I have observed the same issues in the North in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, in Phuket and also in JW Khao Lak. The only place this year I didn't encounter any problems were at the W Koh Samui and in fact this worked in my favour in getting an extreme wow villa for a week!
I spend around 60/70 nights per year in hotels in Thailand and get looked after pretty well at some properties which means I always return to them. During this year some of these hotels have handled Rao Tiew Duay Kan pretty well showing that it is still possible to differentiate between loyal customers and those taking advantage of a short term offer.
Moving forwards there is talk of dual pricing with hotels remaining so this problem could be here to stay.
The offer for locals is 40% but it is limited to 3,000 thb per night. Locals can also get discounts on flights. This has resulted in a lot of staycations in BKK flooded with Thais but I have observed the same issues in the North in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, in Phuket and also in JW Khao Lak. The only place this year I didn't encounter any problems were at the W Koh Samui and in fact this worked in my favour in getting an extreme wow villa for a week!
I spend around 60/70 nights per year in hotels in Thailand and get looked after pretty well at some properties which means I always return to them. During this year some of these hotels have handled Rao Tiew Duay Kan pretty well showing that it is still possible to differentiate between loyal customers and those taking advantage of a short term offer.
Moving forwards there is talk of dual pricing with hotels remaining so this problem could be here to stay.
Jul 30, 2022, 11:53 am
#102
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,228
75% occupancy at this time of year is high.
Jul 30, 2022, 12:36 pm
#103
formerly rt23456p
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 1,210
The manger also said pre pandemic, this time round, it will be full of Chinese. The hotel is very good at clearing upgrades for elites.
Jul 30, 2022, 2:05 pm
#104
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,228
In terms of looking after elites, I agree the hotel is pretty decent hence I go there a lot but they don’t have that many villas to offer. I tend to go there for the reasons I mentioned earlier.
Jul 30, 2022, 2:20 pm
#105
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Montréal, Canada
Posts: 1,610
...The logic fails of course in the long run because the easier you make it to become Platinum the lower quality the guest and the very characteristics that led to the historical data that justified the policy become diluted. Worse, the premium elites who produced that additional revenue become disenfranchised by the crowding of lounges and absence of suite upgrades because of the glut of new Platinums and they abandon Marriott and jump ship to a chain that hasn't overwhelmed the system and gives them the experience they used to get with their Bonvoy elite status. But by then, everyone in Bonvoy marketing who was in that original marketing meeting has moved on to fresh pastures and the new lot wonder why they're in the firing line for losing so many elites and reducing revenue.